Former Shagya Arabian Breeder Banned from Owning Horses

Nancy Skakel

A former Shagya Arabian breeder is banned from owning horses after pleading guilty to felony animal cruelty.

Nancy Skakel of Washington accepted a deal that will keep her from spending time behind bars. She is prohibited from owning horses or any “similar large domestic animals,” according to the agreement, although alpacas are excluded.

The cruelty charge Skakel pleaded guilty to stemmed from her treatment of the pregnant mare named Caress (left), according to court documents. Skakel “with criminal negligence, starved or dehydrated an animal, and as a result, caused substantial and unjustifiable physical pain…”

The 23-year old Shagya Arabian had a Body Condition Score of 2.5 out of 9. Since the mare was six months pregnant the vet report states she should have been maintained at a BCS of 6 out of 9.

Caress had pressure sores and open, infected wounds on three legs. According to court documents, Caress also had “severe arthritis of her hock and carpus that are beyond typical for her age. The level of arthritis in the joints is typical of trauma and/or infection not age-related degeneration.”

Caress died in the fall of 2013 after she fractured her hock getting up from a nap in the grass.

The maximum penalty for animal cruelty in the first degree is five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.

The remaining charges of animal cruelty in the second degree and 19 counts of transporting or confining animals in an unsafe manner were dismissed as a part of Skakel’s plea.

In February 2012 nineteen horses were seized from Skakel’s three-acre farm located in White Salmon. Court records detail the deplorable conditions on the farm, the lack of basic care the horses received, and injuries sustained by some of the horses.

Documents state Skakel admitted to letting her prized stallion, Sarvar PFF, lay in his stall for four days [until he died] with no veterinary care or humane intervention after he was kicked by another horse.

The state reports an 8-year-old Quarter Horse located in Maricopa County recently returned from the Dixie Classic barrel race at the Legacy Horsepark in Washington County, Utah. The mare was shipped to a vet hospital after s...Read More

Horse quarantine: illness unknown The Miami Animal Import horse quarantine facility reopens after four horses died from a still unidentified illness. Staff completed a thorough cleaning and disinfection allowing the quaranti...Read More

Racing continues March 29 The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office is investigating 22 horse deaths at Santa Anita Park in California. Investigators are working with the California Horse Racing Board amid equine welf...Read More

He was an unlikely champion."He was terribly frightened," says Kim Walnes who purchased The Gray Goose in Ireland as a six-year-old.The Irish bred gelding was rigid and learned to buck and bolt at the same time. That unfrien...Read More

What to look for when horse buying? Buying a new horse is an exciting time for any rider. However, the more time I spend in the equine industry, as an adult, the more I understand that buying a horse is harder than it seems....Read More

Equine law cases While you probably hired a successful equine attorney, an equine appraiser provides important keys to help unlock your equine law case, especially if it gets to litigation. Therefore, an equine appraiser sh...Read More

Three Horses Die from Mystery Illness at Miami Animal Import Center A total of six horses were impacted and three are dead, “despite receiving immediate medical treatment.” The surviving three horses are reportedly recov...Read More

Previously, I was the equestrian who thought a fitness regimen consisted of riding horses and doing barn work in the stable. Don't get me wrong, horseback riding is one of the toughest sports out there and barn work is inten...Read More

As amateur equestrians, the journey is satisfying, although sometimes overwhelming. When something doesn't go as planned at a horse show, there is no one waiting to tell us what happened ringside. There is no horse professio...Read More

In a Horse Authority exclusive, Colorado's state veterinarian tells us the location of a horse infected with the deadly disease Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is still unknown. A Weld County veterinarian reported the state's...Read More

Christmas means family, friends, and all of this puts me in the mood to bake, even for my ponies. A half cup flour, a quarter cup oats, apple, and lots of love go into these homemade Peppermint Horse Kisses.
...Read More

Colorado veterinary officials report a fourth is positive with the deadly Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA). A veterinarian tested the horse located in Fremont County for "routine movement purposes."...Read More

California's top attorney announced a jury verdict of almost $8.8 million in favor of the state against equestrian turned lawyer Gina D. Gregory and her immediate family for scam charities. It comes after they fraudulently s...Read More

Colorado officials confirm a third horse is sick with the lethal equine infectious anemia (EIA) although its location is unknown. A Weld County veterinarian tested the horse's blood as part of a buyer's pre-purchase exam. A...Read More

California's top lawyer urges U.S. Forestry officials to rethink a decision that could put some wild horses at risk of going to horse slaughter. The state's law prohibits the possession or sale of horses with the intent of...Read More

Two feed mills reportedly contaminated horse feed with monensin which led to at least six horses' deaths. The FDA issued both companies Warning Letters. Is your horse's feed safe? Get the full scoop. ...Read More

Virginia hunter/jumper professional Evan Coluccio must bid the rated horse show life adieu for six months. The U.S. Equestrian Federation states it suspended the EMC International Stables owner for the misrepresentation of a...Read More

The American Horse Council, Inc. and its Foundation filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Colorado against its former communications director Ashley Furst and her husband, Christopher. ...Read More

Get the latest equine disease alerts happening in September including the tracking of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) after our recent Colorado kill pen EIA exclusive as well as EHM cases, and equine rabies!...Read More